Contest Being Held For Best Pittsburgh Love Stories

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Downtown Pittsburgh love stories are now being told in an online contest.

The winning entry will appear on Valentine’s Day o n a website operated by the Pittsburgh downtown partnership.

The Kaufmann’s clock is a time honored landmark where generations of sweethearts have chosen to rendezvous, and even, perhaps, sneak a kiss.

It’s one of many places folks fell in love with Pittsburgh and each other.

In a contest sponsored by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, President Jeremy Waldrup displays a computer screen filled with Valentines from bloggers.

“We encouraged folks to write in and tell us how they fell in love with Pittsburgh, how they fell in love with an individual in Downtown Pittsburgh,” he says. “We wanted to hear the stories of true love, and how it related to downtown Pittsburgh.”

Arts and architecture, restaurants and sports, joined a lengthy list on www.downtownpitt.blogspot.com. The winner will be posted on Valentine’s Day.

“We are providing the winner of our downtown love story with an opportunity of spending a fantastic weekend, enjoying downtown and rekindling that love affair,” Waldrup says.

Among the prizes: $100 for Cultural Trust events, dinner for two at Meat and Potatoes restaurant, and a gift certificate to Simply Sweet chocolate shop on Penn Avenue.

The new shop proved to be a good place to ask customers about their love affair with Pittsburgh.

“I just love Pittsburgh,” says Tara McKee of Shadyside, “because you go to different neighborhoods, and it’s just like you’re in a different city. It’s like all these different neighborhoods lapping into one place, and you just can’t resist.”

“I came here six years ago to look at the University of Pittsburgh campus and I fell in love,” says Emily Pozzuto of Bloomfield. “I’ve been here ever since.”

The PDP’s Jeremy Waldrup says his moment came one April day on Sixth Street.

“The Pirates were playing, so the bridge was closed,” he recalls. “The city was just abuzz. There were people everywhere. That truly made me fall in love with this place.”